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Snow conditions in the Alps are fairly “normal” for the start of December, with plenty of good piste-skiing to be had in the resorts now open (which number nearly 100 this weekend) even if snow depths are relatively modest, and some low areas still completely devoid of any meaningful natural snow.

Regular followers will know that the north-western Alps have taken the brunt of recent storms and seen the heaviest snowfalls over the last few weeks. However, temperatures have fluctuated considerably, meaning that any lower-lying snow has had trouble sticking. Furthermore, the recent storms have also been accompanied by strong winds, leaving many high and/or exposed areas looking a little scoured. In short, most of the action remains on piste, with some very pleasant skiing on offer this weekend, helped by the predominantly sunny weather.

Some of the more extensive options offering good piste-skiing this weekend include Val d’Isère/Tignes, Val Thorens, Verbier, Zermatt/Cervinia, Saas-Fee, St Moritz, Ischgl, Sölden, Obergurgl and Kronplatz, to name a few.

Some bits and pieces of new snow are expected over the coming week, mostly in the northern half of the Alps and generally in modest quantities, though there is a chance of some heavier snow next weekend.  

Across the pond, dozens of resorts are at least partially open, with California’s Mammoth leading the way in the extent of terrain available.  

On the whole, Austrian ski resorts have missed the heaviest of recent snowfalls, except in the far west (Arlberg) where the likes of St Anton and Lech will open later this week.

There is still plenty of good piste-skiing available elsewhere in Austria, with Ischgl (15/40cm), as it nearly always does, leading the way in terms of early available terrain (110km) even if artificial snow is heavily in the mix.

Other good options include nearby Sölden (0/130cm) and Obergurgl (20/60cm), although it’s not just the high resorts that are open now, with lower areas like the Ski Welt (70cm upper base) also offering a good number pistes albeit with considerable artificial help, especially lower down.

A little bit of new snow is forecast for most Austrian resorts this week, firstly on Monday night/Tuesday then again later in the week, with the chance of something more substantial next weekend.  

The northern French Alps have seen the heaviest of the recent weeks’ snow, but you wouldn’t always know it as strong winds have left some higher areas quite bare.

For now, most of the action is on-piste, with seven resorts open for skiing this weekend, Val d’Isère/Tignes (30/80cm) and Val Thorens (60/95cm) prominent among them. Another good option right now is Les 2 Alpes, where there is just over 1m of settled snow higher up.

A little more snow is forecast for the French Alps later tomorrow with the chance of something more potent next weekend. 

Around 20 ski resorts are partially open in Italy this weekend. Cervinia, with its links into Zermatt, remains one of the best options in terms of both snow quality and extent of available terrain although the snow has been very windblown at altitude.

Further east, Livigno (20/40cm) is in reasonable early shape with around 20km of pistes on offer on a mix of natural and artificial snow. Many Dolomite resorts are also up and running, with Kronplatz (30cm upper base) currently leading the way with 50km of open slopes.

There isn’t much in the way of snow forecast for the Italian ski resorts this week, with only a little due in the north-west, mostly on Monday night. More substantial snowfalls are then possible next weekend, but at this stage this seems more likely to affect the northern half of the Alps. Watch this space! 

A lot of Swiss ski resorts are now partially open, with Zermatt (15/150cm) and Verbier (20/65cm) among the best options thanks to the heavy snowfalls in recent weeks.

In the far south-east of the country, St Moritz (15/30cm) has also opened up a reasonable number of pistes even if natural snow cover remains relatively modest for now.

A little more snow is expected to fall in some Swiss ski resorts over the next few days, firstly on Monday night then again later in the week ,with the chance of something heavier on the cards for next weekend. 

Almost all non-alpine skiing options remain confined to Scandinavia, where several ski resorts are partially open, offering some limited on-piste terrain.

Levi (40cm upper base) is one of the options now open in Finland, while Geilo (30cm upper base) is one of several Norwegian resorts that have now opened some very limited terrain.

November was a good month for the Californian ski resorts, with Mammoth (105cm upper base) now able to open 98% of its area.

Over in Utah, there has been 50cm of new snow in the last week with top-to-bottom skiing possible in Snowbird (70cm mid-mountain base).

Openings are generally a bit more limited in extent in Colorado, where Beaver Creek is one of the better offerings with a 65cm upper base and around 30% of its terrain open. 

There may not have been much snow over the last week in Whistler (110cm upper base), though it is still benefiting from the storms earlier in November which have allowed half of its area to be operational. More snow is also forecast here later this week.

Further inland, Lake Louise (60cm upper base) is about 30% open and can also offer some decent piste-skiing. 

Our next full snow report will be on
Friday 6 December 2024